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Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
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Being a Wildlife Biologist has some downfalls. One of them is that I have a real pet-peeve with some of the more common names given to animals. So for those that might be offended by my rant here, I must ask for forgiveness in advance.
Here's the core of it: there's no such thing as a "Panther". I know that really comes as a shock to a lot of folks, but it's true. Don't just take my word for it either. Check it out. Look it up in any, reputable, scientifically-based journal or encyclopedia. Filter through all the hype and myth and folklore, and you'll discover I'm not just babbling. Now, having said all that, on with the educational portion of my speech. :)
The "Florida Panther" is the common name for the only endangered sub-species of cougar, felis concolor coryi. However, in most cases, that's not the "panther" most people are talking about. Most poeple see a black, big cat and the word "panther" comes to mind. In reality, the melanistic phase (the black fur color) occurs in several species of big cats, namely, Panthera pardus (leopard) and Panthera onca (jaguar). Such cats are not a distinct sub-species, but rather just a different, naturally-occurring color-variant of the respective species. Another common misnomer is that those cats are entirely black; this myth is also untrue. Essentially, the only difference between a melanistic cat and a regular-furred on, is that all the yellow fur is black. They all still have spots - called "rosettes" - which can still be clearly seen on the melanistic animals in the right light.
Okay. I'll get off my soapbox now and turn off the Wildlife Biologist. :)
This pic is of Onyx, about 80lbs of Asian leopard fury. This pic was taken in the evening, with flash, which actually came out pretty good. More importantly, it shows off her spots and that beautiful fur of hers really well, IMHO.
Onyx is a miracle child, as she is a cancer survivor even though it claimed her entire right, rear leg. She's now 11-years-old, and only having three legs hasn't slowed her down - or made her any less feisty! - in the slightest. She'd just assume kill anyone as look at them. She's a little snarly at times.
Disclaimer: I hate to have to put this on here, but the pic is copyright me. Please do not distribute, copy, alter, etc, without my permission. Having said all that, feel free to download and use it for your own inspiration.
Here's the core of it: there's no such thing as a "Panther". I know that really comes as a shock to a lot of folks, but it's true. Don't just take my word for it either. Check it out. Look it up in any, reputable, scientifically-based journal or encyclopedia. Filter through all the hype and myth and folklore, and you'll discover I'm not just babbling. Now, having said all that, on with the educational portion of my speech. :)
The "Florida Panther" is the common name for the only endangered sub-species of cougar, felis concolor coryi. However, in most cases, that's not the "panther" most people are talking about. Most poeple see a black, big cat and the word "panther" comes to mind. In reality, the melanistic phase (the black fur color) occurs in several species of big cats, namely, Panthera pardus (leopard) and Panthera onca (jaguar). Such cats are not a distinct sub-species, but rather just a different, naturally-occurring color-variant of the respective species. Another common misnomer is that those cats are entirely black; this myth is also untrue. Essentially, the only difference between a melanistic cat and a regular-furred on, is that all the yellow fur is black. They all still have spots - called "rosettes" - which can still be clearly seen on the melanistic animals in the right light.
Okay. I'll get off my soapbox now and turn off the Wildlife Biologist. :)
This pic is of Onyx, about 80lbs of Asian leopard fury. This pic was taken in the evening, with flash, which actually came out pretty good. More importantly, it shows off her spots and that beautiful fur of hers really well, IMHO.
Onyx is a miracle child, as she is a cancer survivor even though it claimed her entire right, rear leg. She's now 11-years-old, and only having three legs hasn't slowed her down - or made her any less feisty! - in the slightest. She'd just assume kill anyone as look at them. She's a little snarly at times.
Disclaimer: I hate to have to put this on here, but the pic is copyright me. Please do not distribute, copy, alter, etc, without my permission. Having said all that, feel free to download and use it for your own inspiration.
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Leopard
Size 1024 x 682px
File Size 84.9 kB
Well, each entity is a unique being in the universe. If Onyx inspires you to change your own spots, then I'm glad the photo was a good conduit. :) In any case, I'm glad you enjoy this small glimpse of her.
The black cats have a certain air of mystery about them, but they are certainly no less elegant or magnificent because of it. Some might say it adds to it. :)
The black cats have a certain air of mystery about them, but they are certainly no less elegant or magnificent because of it. Some might say it adds to it. :)
Yeah! Here's a link to an oldish rant drawing I did about a year ago, shows the darker side of my educating experience.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/20478/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/20478/
I was giving a tour once, and Angel and Shekhina (tigers) were in their big tub, but neither of them were letting their front paws get wet. I'm not really one that's very good with humor, as I tend to be so dead-pan; I told the gathered crowd: "Tigers can't get their front paws wet, because they'll melt." I had one person turn to me, so totally shocked that their mouth gaped open, and another was just downright distraught. They stood there, totally upset, and then said: "Really? How horrible!" I had to just take a deep breath. I mean, what can you /possibly/ say to that?
It's one of those few jobs where even though you might have good days and bad day (like any other endeavor in life, I suppose) you are truly content at the end of the say, when you put your head on the pillow and head off into dreamland. Of course, I guess it could be argues that it's not really a job, as I wasn't getting paid (volunteer), but I still really enjoyed it.
Okay, forgive my babble here for a moment...
I totally went off in my first journal entry on my homepage. In that, I talked about passions. For sake of example, that goofy, goosebumps, chilly kind of feeling you had? Well, /that/ the best indicator of passions that there is. For anything and everything that you feel that way, those are your "passions".
Okay. I'll turn off the counselor thing now. :)
I totally went off in my first journal entry on my homepage. In that, I talked about passions. For sake of example, that goofy, goosebumps, chilly kind of feeling you had? Well, /that/ the best indicator of passions that there is. For anything and everything that you feel that way, those are your "passions".
Okay. I'll turn off the counselor thing now. :)
Onyx is definitely a very beautiful lady, even though she's always had this thing about wanting to rip my face off when I'm trying to feed her. Oh well. Par for the course, I guess, when it comes to leopards. They can be pretty feisty.
I used to be more interested in wolves than cats; then I had a cougar dropped into my lap, and I was forever altered. I still admire wolves to a flaw though. They are the most noble creature I can thing of. I'll be posting more wolves here eventually.
I used to be more interested in wolves than cats; then I had a cougar dropped into my lap, and I was forever altered. I still admire wolves to a flaw though. They are the most noble creature I can thing of. I'll be posting more wolves here eventually.
Well, truth is, as all the melanistic cats are "rainforest" cats, it is very likely that they will indeed go extinct before long. The black jaguars of South America don't have a whole lot of turf left anymore, and what remains is rapidly dwindling.
The Asian melanistics are safe for the time being, but humanity has a way of destroying everything that is beautiful in the long-run, so even with them, it's just a matter of time. For them, it's more the threat of poaching that is becoming a problem.
There are times that I am truly ashamed to be a part of the human race.
On a lighter note, I'm glad you like Onyx. She is a very beautiful creature. I'll post more of her in time.
The Asian melanistics are safe for the time being, but humanity has a way of destroying everything that is beautiful in the long-run, so even with them, it's just a matter of time. For them, it's more the threat of poaching that is becoming a problem.
There are times that I am truly ashamed to be a part of the human race.
On a lighter note, I'm glad you like Onyx. She is a very beautiful creature. I'll post more of her in time.
The problem of poaching is the existence of a strong demand and unfortunately more rare is the animal the more expensive the price is. Extinguish these demand is the more efficient solution but how we will stop a planetary market? We have no planetary way to apply the Washington annex defitively, to many countries, to many geopolitic problems, economical problems among countries, starvation, war, corruption etc.... For that I respect the few biologists and scientists who try despite the difficulties to save the remains of the "original" nature and those who help in site peoples by many ways to protect their environment.
Thanks to post more of your photos, Onyx and others ^^
Thanks to post more of your photos, Onyx and others ^^
I used to be very idealistic. I thought that the salvation of the animals rested with those folks that would get out there and physically work to save the animals' habitats. I've become a lot older and wiser now.
I've gotten into a few..."discussions" with colleagues about the whole "Save the Animals" theme. In my opinion, extinction doesn't really rest on the destruction of habitat or poaching. Those are only symptoms (though they are ultimately a very major factors). In the end, it is peoples' attitudes that need to change, if we are to save all these animals from extinction. If /people/ change, then they will stop destroying habitat and poaching, and then the animals will be able to survive. The bad news is, if the history of humanity is any example (which it has proven to be) then humanity will most likely not change.
Okay. Sorry. That turned out a whole lot more depressing of a post than intended. Sorry.
On a brighter note... You're welcome for the posts. I'm glad that you enjoy them.
I've gotten into a few..."discussions" with colleagues about the whole "Save the Animals" theme. In my opinion, extinction doesn't really rest on the destruction of habitat or poaching. Those are only symptoms (though they are ultimately a very major factors). In the end, it is peoples' attitudes that need to change, if we are to save all these animals from extinction. If /people/ change, then they will stop destroying habitat and poaching, and then the animals will be able to survive. The bad news is, if the history of humanity is any example (which it has proven to be) then humanity will most likely not change.
Okay. Sorry. That turned out a whole lot more depressing of a post than intended. Sorry.
On a brighter note... You're welcome for the posts. I'm glad that you enjoy them.
Indeed! Onyx is the very same feline from that show.
Onyx even did a tour of duty being on display (in a cage of course) at the original Ripley's Museum in St Augustine. She didn't approve at all, and was rather snarly the whole time.
In any case, I'm glad you got to see the program. Onyx is quite the kitty. :)
Onyx even did a tour of duty being on display (in a cage of course) at the original Ripley's Museum in St Augustine. She didn't approve at all, and was rather snarly the whole time.
In any case, I'm glad you got to see the program. Onyx is quite the kitty. :)
It was a fun filming day, but if there's one thing consistent with Onyx, she doesn't like very many people. Leopards are like that.
Leopards are fiercely independent, so they only "bond" with the person (or persons) that raised them. Many cats are this way. In this case, Onyx only tollerates her "Chosen One" and everyone else if just food. :)
Leopards are fiercely independent, so they only "bond" with the person (or persons) that raised them. Many cats are this way. In this case, Onyx only tollerates her "Chosen One" and everyone else if just food. :)
I tought it was something like that. But i was thinking that what do you do with all these cats. I mean do you release them at some point? or are they somehow incapable of living in the wild etc..well you get my point :D (and if you have written this somewhere dont kill me for not reading that xP)
Any animal born and raised in captivity that has been human handled, is no longer a release candidate. Hunting is a learned ability, and in the wild, they would learn that from mom. In the case of captivity, once they have any form of dependency on humans, they couldn't go back to the wild, for two major reasons: 1) they never learned how to hunt, which would severely dampen their survival probability, and 2) because of their former associations with humanity, they do not fear humans, which means, should they run into "trouble" they would think that approaching a human for "help" is what they're supposed to do. In most cases, this would lead to disaster for the animal, who would most likely be shot because everyone would just assume that it meant to hurt someone, when it didn't. In other words, they need to not like us, so they'll stay way far away from us.
Release candidate animals are always mother raised, and not handles by humans at all. In those cases, many of the animals do quite well, if they're ever actually released, which is rare.
I hope that answers the question and sheds some light on the curiosity.
Release candidate animals are always mother raised, and not handles by humans at all. In those cases, many of the animals do quite well, if they're ever actually released, which is rare.
I hope that answers the question and sheds some light on the curiosity.
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